Only 13% of polling locations are accessible to disabled voters in Metro Detroit.
Since 2018, Detroit Disability Power has evaluated polling place accessibility across Michigan, with our 2024 audit of 294 Metro Detroit locations serving 1 million Michiganders revealing a critical accessibility gap that threatens equal voting rights for people with disabilities.
Every Michigan voter deserves equal access to the ballot box. Join our effort to make voting accessible for the 30.4% of voting-age Michiganders with disabilities.
The Problem
30.4% of voting-age Michiganders have a disability, yet our audit of 294 polling places in Metro Detroit found widespread barriers to voting. People with disabilities face:
Unmarked or obstructed pathways
Lack of accessible voting equipment
Untrained poll workers unable to provide assistance
And so much more.
The Solution
Some access issues will require resources be invested to create the access required by law. Other issues can be solved with simple, low cost, Election Day adjustments. Our report outlines eight actionable recommendations to ensure equal access, some of which are:
Better coordination between state and local election officials
Improved poll worker training
Dedicated funding for accessibility improvements
Why it Matters
It's the law. At Detroit Disability Power, we conduct poll audits to ensure everyone has their constitutional rights upheld:
Voters with disabilities have the right to cast ballots privately and independently
Right to receive assistance from a person of their choosing
Equal protection under the law requires equitable voting access
Voting Rights Laws
1965 | Voting Rights Act
Section 201: Prohibits literacy tests, protecting voters with cognitive disabilities
Section 208: Allows voters with disabilities to receive assistance from a person of choice
1990 | Americans with Disabilities Act
Title II requires equal opportunity in all government programs, including voting; applies to all aspects of the voting process
2002 | Help America Vote Act
Requires at least one accessible voting system at each polling place
Systems must allow private and independent voting for voters with disabilities
MCL 168.662 & 168.795 | Michigan Voting Laws
Extends Voter Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act and Help America Vote Act provisions to non-federal elections
Requires accessible voting devices at each polling place
Watch the 2024 Poll Audit Briefing
Previous Poll Audits
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Advocacy Director, Eric Welsby, at Eric@DetroitDisabilityPower.org